Klarinet Archive - Posting 000128.txt from 2001/10

From: CBA <clarinet10001@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Is There Moderator--and other topics
Date: Sat, 6 Oct 2001 04:20:26 -0400

> Isn't there a moderator-at all-for this list? I
> stopped receiving list mail
> before
> because you get SOOOOO much mail and very little is
> relevant.

Robert,

There is a moderator for technical things, but not
content on this list. Mark Charette is the moderator,
and Kevin Fay (I believe) is the co-moderator? Except
my apologies if I am wrong.

The topic of "What is related content?" probably has
as much airtime or more on this list than the relative
stuff does, but that is the way the list is run. No
content altering is done by the moderators, and
expulsion from the list isn't an option unless someone
uses inappropriate language that goes past a certain
point (Mark, correct me if I'm wrong.)

> Fourth....
>
> Dr. Stephen Johnston, here at Shenandoah University,
> also agrees concerning
> the Yamaha clarinets. He said that if he were to
> ever need to purchase
> another,
> he may just get one [He is a definite "Old School"
> player/teacher too.] I'm
> really
> curious now to try them out myself. I have Prestige
> clarinets (A & Bb), but
> no
> backups. Recently, I had to have some work done
> where I did not have my Bb
> for a couple of days....WHOA. Very inconvenient.
> So maybe I'll arrange a
> trip
> to Chuck Levins and have him set a few Yamahas
> aside. Anyone know the
> general cost range for the professional level
> clarinets?

Here's a thought on backup clarinets. If you have
professional clarinets, I would think your "backup"
clarinets would need to be somewhat similar to your
main ones. If you only have an hour or less to get
used to the backup instrument, you probably would do
better to not have to get used to a new style or brand
instrument in that short amount of time.

You have your original instruments, and like them, I
suppose, so why not get similar ones to replace them
in an emergency? If you like the "backup" clarinets
better, then maybe you should have them as your main
instruments. If you are considering picking a
different brand for the backups, maybe you should
think about getting buyers for your main instruments
and purchase 2 sets of the "backups", if possible.

There is an exception to the rule of second clarinet
sets, where you buy another set of instruments for
*different uses* like brighter/darker instruments or
instruments for chamber work as opposed to solo or
orchestral work. In this case, your "backup"
instruments may not be a good alternative when your
instrument is in the shop. I don't think this is
relative to your situation, but correct me if I'm
wrong.

> Fifth....
>
> Anyone out there have opinions on the different
> ligatures available? I
> tried
> a BG Revelation today, and though I could tell a
> *little* difference in
> color, it
> pretty much gave the same feel and response as my
> OLD (1987) Rovner. I
> guess
> if I had to say exactly what I felt the difference
> was, I'd say (and this
> goes for both
> playing & listening) the BG Revelation allowed a
> *little* *tiny* bit better
> response
> from the reed, but gave a *slightly* brighter edge
> to the sound. I
> personally would
> like to have the center-darkness of Leister, with a
> suggestion of the focus
> and edge of
> Larry Combs' sound for projection and presence.
> Since I already feel my
> sound is
> on the brighter side (MUCH brighter than Leister), I
> do not want to venture
> towards
> the BG Revelation.

I love my *standard* BG ligature (black rubber
insert.) It gives me projection without the edge of
the BG Revelation (red string and metal insert) or BG
Super Revelation (green string and metal insert.) I
find that I can articulate well on it (almost as well
as the BG Revelation) and I have less squeaks with the
standard BG too. I squeak constantly using the BG
Super Revelation. If you like the BG Revelation, but
think it is too bright, try the regular model.

I like the Rovner ligatures, but find that I don't
articulate as well on the ones that sound the way I
like. In reverse, the Rovners that I articulate well
on have a sound I don't appreciate.

You might try out different mouthpieces in combination
with the ligatures to find the right combination too.

Sorry for the long post...

Kelly Abraham
Woodwinds - New York City

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